Application Guide

How to Apply for Transformation Fellow – Economic Management and Governance

at ACET: African Center for Economic Transformation

🏢 About ACET: African Center for Economic Transformation

ACET is a leading African think tank focused exclusively on economic transformation across the continent, combining deep research with practical policy engagement. Unlike many research institutions, ACET works directly with African governments to implement transformation agendas, offering a unique opportunity to see research translate into real-world impact. Their remote-first approach allows for pan-African collaboration while maintaining strong connections to policymakers in multiple countries.

About This Role

As a Transformation Fellow, you'll lead a two-year research agenda on economic management and governance, producing papers, briefs, and datasets while translating findings into actionable policy options with both quick wins and medium-term pathways. This role directly impacts African economic transformation by engaging stakeholders, documenting decisions, and ensuring research informs actual governance improvements across the continent.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing trade productivity datasets in Stata/R, drafting a policy brief on digital transformation quick wins for an African government, and preparing for stakeholder consultations with ministry officials. You'd likely update action trackers from previous engagements while ensuring upcoming research outputs align with donor visibility requirements and ACET's transformation priorities.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who ACET: African Center for Economic Transformation Is Looking For

  • Holds an advanced degree in Economics, Labor Economics, or International Development with 3-8 years of hands-on research experience in services/industry linkages, digital productivity, or trade/export transformation
  • Demonstrates strong technical proficiency in Stata, R, or Python for econometric analysis and dataset preparation with replication files
  • Has experience bridging research and policy, specifically in translating complex findings into implementable options with clear quick-win and medium-term pathways
  • Possesses stakeholder engagement skills including conducting interviews, maintaining action trackers, and documenting decisions from consultations with policymakers

📝 Tips for Applying to ACET: African Center for Economic Transformation

1

Highlight specific research projects where you designed datasets with replication files—ACET emphasizes methodological transparency

2

Demonstrate how you've previously translated research into policy options with both immediate and medium-term implementation paths

3

Showcase experience with donor visibility compliance requirements, which is explicitly mentioned in the knowledge & comms responsibilities

4

Provide concrete examples of maintaining action trackers or focal-point logs from previous stakeholder engagement work

5

Tailor your application to ACET's economic transformation focus by referencing their past publications or country engagements

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience designing and delivering multi-year research agendas with measurable outputs (papers, briefs, blogs)', 'Specific examples of translating economic research into implementable policy options with both quick wins and medium-term paths', 'Technical proficiency with statistical software (Stata/R/Python) and experience preparing replication-ready datasets', "How your background in services/industry linkages, digital productivity, or trade aligns with ACET's transformation priorities"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review ACET's African Transformation Reports and country engagement cases to understand their specific transformation frameworks
  • → Study their recent publications on economic management, governance, or PFM to identify research gaps you could address
  • → Research ACET's key donor partnerships and how they balance research independence with donor visibility requirements
  • → Examine their stakeholder engagement approach by reviewing convening reports or policy dialogue documentation

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would design the two-year research agenda for economic management and governance in an African context
2 Describe a time you translated complex research findings into policy options with both immediate and medium-term implementation pathways
3 How would you approach stakeholder consultations with African government officials while maintaining detailed action trackers?
4 What statistical techniques would you employ to analyze services/industry linkages or digital productivity in African economies?
5 How would you ensure donor visibility compliance while creating blogs, op-eds, and slide decks from your research?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic research experience without specific examples in services/industry linkages, digital productivity, or trade/export transformation
  • Focusing only on academic research without demonstrating policy translation experience or stakeholder engagement skills
  • Failing to address the technical requirements—applications without clear evidence of Stata/R/Python proficiency and dataset preparation experience

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to ACET: African Center for Economic Transformation!

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